Family & kids, Ski touring, Snowboard, Ski | Feb 4, 2022

The best family ski resorts in Europe

Marietta Hoffmann
More about the author

Are you planning a family ski holiday and wondering where to go? Granted, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly ski resorts in Europe. Fortunately, the RENTertainers, our winter sports experts, are there to help you – and they know the best destinations for families.

We asked the “family experts” of the INTERSPORT Rent team for their recommendations for child-friendly ski resorts in Austria, France and Switzerland.

Ski rental & more for families with INTERSPORT Rent

Are you wondering where to get all the ski equipment for your family? That’s easy: Simply rent it at a great price from INTERSPORT Rent! Apart from top-of-the-line equipment and great promotions for adults and children, we offer many more services for skiers of all ages.

For instance, our convenient three-step online reservation system. Or the personal advice of the professional RENTertainers at Europe’s best family ski resorts. Plus, an extra dose of snow-how for families on our RENTertainer blog.

© McKINLEY
© McKINLEY

What makes a family-friendly ski resort?

First of all, there are several quality seals for family-friendly ski and holiday resorts, such as “Famille Plus” in France, “Family Destination” in Switzerland and other local labels. What’s more, you can also look for the best-rated family ski resorts on platforms such as skiresort.de (“Top für Familien”) or snowplaza.de (“Bestes Skigebiet für Familien”).

Quality seals and online ratings are not your cup of tea? Then how about picking your own “must-haves” for a great family ski holiday:

At the ski resort:

  • affordable ski passes for children and families
  • child-friendly beginners’ areas in the valley or close to the lift stations
  • easy slopes, beginner slopes and family slopes
  • special children’s lifts, practice lifts, magic carpets and more 
  • ski schools and nurseries that are open during the off-season and offer lessons for toddlers, older kids, youths and adults
  • childcare facilities for babies and toddlers
  • magic carpets, children’s areas, obstacle courses, wave tracks, playgrounds, mascots and more

At the restaurant:

  • kids’ meals
  • highchairs
  • changing facilities
  • kids’ toilets
  • play corners

Around town:

  • short distances between accommodation and ski resort, e.g. hotels right by the slope
  • free busses between the centre and the lifts
  • varied off-piste activities for families such as sledging, ice skating, snowshoeing etc.
  • bad weather activities such as family spas, children’s museums, indoor playgrounds etc.
  • INTERSPORT Rent ski rental at great prices for the whole family

Where should you spend your family ski holiday in Europe?

Join us on a journey through Europe’s best family-friendly ski resorts! At the following ski resorts, you can lean back and watch your little ones master their first turns – or have fun in the snow together with them!

By the way: We also have some useful tips for skiing with children – by parents for parents!

© McKINLEY

Austria

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis

The Tyrolean ski resort of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is a great choice for families. It boasts easy slopes as well as more challenging and themed runs. The little ones can learn how to ski at the “Kinderschneealm” children’s area. Older kids love to explore “Murmlipark”, a 10,000 square-metre snow paradise with a magic carpet, a merry-go-round, an igloo and play figures.

More than 70 qualified children’s ski instructors help young guests to master their first turns in the snow. Plus, childcare services are also offered at the resort, with the qualified childminders of “Murmlikrippe” in Serfaus and “Bertas Kindergarten” in Fiss taking care of your little ones.

© Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Marketing GmbH / Andreas Kirschner
© Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Marketing GmbH / Daniel Zangerl

The family highlights of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis ski resort at a glance

  • “Kinderschneealm” children’s area for the little ones
  • “Murmlipark” practice area  
  • “Murmliweg” adventure slope, “Bärenpiste” family slope, cave slope, animal slope, Berta’s Wild West World, funslope and more
  • Murmli, the ski resort’s mascot
  • childcare by qualified ski instructors and childminders
  • “Bertas Kindergarten” in Fiss for children aged 3 months and above
  • “Murmlikrippe” nursery in Serfaus (at the valley station of Komperdell cable car) for kids aged 0 to 6 
  • indoor playground
  • family-friendly accommodation
© Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Marketing GmbH / Daniel Zangerl

Wilder Kaiser

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental is another Tyrolean ski resort that’s hugely popular with families. It boasts a whopping 228 kilometres of slopes and plenty of offers for children. Even the ski lifts are particularly child-friendly at SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser. Beginners can tackle their first stem christies free of charge at “Hexenwiese” in Söll. Advanced young riders enjoy the “Kinderkaiserland” ski area and adventure park at Scheffau mountain station.

Speed fans of all ages can show off their skills at the timed race track or on the Ski Movie run. In addition, there’s a weekly programme jam-packed with fun activities like llama trekking, husky sledding or a visit to KaiserBad Ellmau public pool. In need of a little parents’ time-out? Make use of one of the many childcare options provided at Wilder Kaiser ski resort!

The best thing about it: The ski resort offers family ski passes at a great price!

© Mirja Geh
© Tropper Kurt

The family highlights of SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser ski resort at a glance

  • free “Hexenwiese” practice area in Söll
  • “Kinderkaiserland” children’s area and adventure park
  • particularly child-friendly chairlifts
  • children’s areas with a mascot
  • “Hexenwinter” adventure
  • 3 funparks
  • childcare for the littlest ones: “Kiko” in Söll, “Schneepiraten” in Scheffau and “Ellmi's Kids Club”
  • special ski pass offers for families, e.g. ski pass for young families or family ski weeks
  • several children’s ski schools in Scheffau, Söll and Ellmau
  • varied programme of weekly activities 
  • flood-lit toboggan run for night sledging, Bavarian curling, snow biking and more
  • family-friendly mountain restaurants in every village
© Mirja Geh

Lofer

With 46 kilometres of slopes, Lofer is a relatively small ski resort in Salzburg‘s Saalach Valley. This fact makes it a popular family destination. Lofer has received numerous awards as a great family and beginner ski resort as well as for its excellent slope conditions, state-of-the-art lifts and cable cars and outstanding cleanliness and hygiene. In short: Lofer offers a fantastic all-round package for snow-loving families.

What’s more, the ski resort offers great value for money and two particularly child-friendly chairlifts. Other highlights include a 140-metre covered magic carpet and Lofi Funline snow park.

Great offer: Every Saturday, children up to 15 years of age who are accompanied by both parents go free at Lofer ski resort!

© Albin Niederstrasser
© Albin Niederstrasser

The family highlights of Lofer ski resort at a glance

  • particularly child-friendly chairlifts
  • awarded as an excellent ski resort for families and beginners 
  • different types of family ski passes at a great price  
  • 140 m covered magic carpet (conveyor system)
  • Lofi Funline for the whole family right next to Family Express lift
  • “Ski and spa” combined ticket
© Kerstin Jönson

Switzerland

Bellwald

Something easy for the littlest ones and something a bit more challenging for older kids and adults: With its 20 kilometres of slopes, Bellwald ski resort offers slopes for every family member. The resort carries the label “Familien Willkommen” (families welcome) for a reason, boasting family highlights such as a children’s ski school or Snowli, the mascot, for little skiers aged 2.5 years and above.

The even better news: Holders of a Bellwald Card get to use “Snowlis Hasenland” children’s area with its children’s lifts, magic carpet, obstacle course and more for free! In addition, the card allows you to use the local childcare facilities as well as the “Sportbus” running from the village to the valley station of the chairlift for free.

Long lift queues? Not in Bellwald! Queues are usually short, and you can look forward to some splendid views of the legendary Matterhorn.

© Bellwald Tourismus
© Bellwald Tourismus

The family highlights of Bellwald ski resort at a glance

  • “Snowlis Hasenland” children’s ski school and nursery (on weekdays from 10:00 to 13:00)
  • ski and snowboard school
  • snow park
  • Snowli, the mascot
  • sledging (from the chairlift mid-station) and night sledging (in Gassen)
  • “Sportbus” running between the village and the chairlift valley station 
  • dynamic pricing scheme with special tariffs for families with 2 children or more
© Bellwald Tourismus

Arosa Lenzerheide

Arosa and Lenzerheide are a dream team for family fun in the Swiss snow.

On the one side, you have Arosa, which carries the “Family Destination” label. Hop on the “Märligondel” to listen to fairy tales during the ride or learn how to ski at the beginners’ or children’s area. What’s more, you can join the group lessons of the local ski and snowboard school for free if you spend two nights or more at a participating accommodation provider. Or how about visiting the mountain animals at “Bärenland” or “Eichhörnliland” or enjoying the childcare services, sledging run or other great facilities?

On the other side, in Lenzerheide, you can enjoy several children’s areas, an indoor and outdoor natural ice rink, the “Foxtrail” treasure hunt or the Globi children’s programme for families. Expect thrills and spills on and off the slopes!

© Arosa Lenzerheide
© Arosa Tourismus | Nina Mattli

The family highlights of Arosa Lenzerheide ski resort at a glance

© Arosa Lenzerheide
  • Arosa is a certified “Family Destination”. 
  • “Honigland” area at Prätschli for children and returnees – free of charge
  • Free group lessons at Arosa ski and snowboard school
  • adventures by the slope at “Bärenland”, “Eichhörnliweg”, “Zauberwald Lenzerheide” etc.
  • childcare at “Arosa Bärenhöhle”
  • children’s activities in Lenzerheide, e.g. cross-country skiing trial courses, kids’ theatre or Swedish log fire BBQ

France

Les 3 Vallées

The French ski resort of Les 3 Vallées puts the little ones first. This is proven by child-friendly accommodation options, easy slopes and great ski schools and nurseries. Les 3 Vallées is the world’s largest connected ski area, spanning three valleys. Consequently, there’s more than enough space for families to enjoy the snow there!

© Val d'Isère Tourisme | Richard Bord
© Val d'Isère Tourisme | Yann Allegre

The family highlights of 3 Vallées ski resort at a glance

  • more than 50 % (164) beginners’ slopes (green) and easy runs (blue)  
  • two family ski routes from valley to valley along blue runs
  • child-friendly ski lifts with extra protection
  • great family ski pass prices
  • numerous ski-in/ski-out hotels right by the slope
© Val d'Isère Tourisme | Yann Allegre

Other family-friendly ski resorts in France

Other family ski resorts in Europe

  • Germany: großer Arber (Bavarian Forest), Balderschwang, Bad Hindelang
  • Italy: Dolomiti Superski Carezza, Alpe di Siusi, Three Peaks
© FW21 / McKinley

INTERSPORT Rent tip

No matter where your family ski holiday in Europe takes you, one thing’s for sure: INTERSPORT Rent will be there to gear you up with top-class ski equipment. Don’t hesitate to ask for special family offers at our shops to make the most of your family holiday!

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